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As in real baseball, the object of the game is to score the most runs. The game supports one player versus a computer opponent, or two players. Each player can select from one of six teams.

Though lacking a license to give official team names,[2] their initials in the game are meant to represent the names of real teams from the Japanese Central League or the American Major League Baseball in their respective regions. In gameplay, the only practical difference between the teams is the uniform colors.[3]

The title screen music of this NES title also appears as the title screen music of some of Nintendo's other NES Sports series titles such as Pro Wrestling. A slightly altered version of it appears at the title screen of the Nintendo's NES title, Volleyball. The home run music appears as the victory tune in both Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! arcade games.

IGN gave Baseball a 5.5 out of 10 in 2007, noting its depth of pitching, its two-player support, "its still-intact sense of fun", and its important place in Nintendo's history. The review said that the 1985 test market launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System had "heavily relied upon" Baseball, due to the globally recognizable status of the sport. The review summarized that "the NES came out a winner—thanks, in part, to Baseball".[2]

GameSpot gave Baseball a 4.2 out of 10 in 2006, stating that while it was easy to play, the "bare-bones" replica of the sport "hasn't withstood the test of time."[3]